Jakarta seeks to export planes to Yemen<\/p>\n
By Budiman Moerdijat<\/p>\n
SANA'A, Yemen (JP): Top cabinet ministers said that the export
\nof defense equipment to Yemen was high on the agenda of President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid's visit to the country on Thursday and Friday.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters on board the presidential flight from
\nJakarta to Yemen on Thursday, foreign minister Alwi Shihab said
\nYemen had expressed interest in buying defense products from
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Defense minister Mahfud M.D., who was also present, said that
\nJakarta would try to export CN-235 planes and light weaponry to
\nthe Yemeni military.<\/p>\n
\"We will be lobbying my counterpart in Yemen to buy light and
\nsmall weaponry from Indonesia,\" Mahfud said.<\/p>\n
He also said that Jakarta would try to establish joint
\nmilitary education and training with the Yemeni military.<\/p>\n
\"All three branches of our armed forces have staff and command
\nschools and they are sometimes visited by foreign military
\nofficers, so what we are going to do is to invite Yemen's
\nmilitary officers to study in Indonesia,\" Mahfud said.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, who is on a two-week trip to the Middle East and
\nNorth African countries, arrived at Sana'a international airport
\non Thursday afternoon after a nine-hour flight from Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian President, who was given a red carpet welcome
\nand gun salute, was scheduled to hold talks with Yemeni President
\nAli Abdullah Saleh before attending a state dinner late on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
Alwi and Mahfud were also scheduled to meet with their
\ncounterparts on Thursday evening.<\/p>\n
Alwi had earlier also said that Abdurrahman's visit to Yemen
\nwas aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between the two
\ncountries and that Jakarta would like to assist Yemen in
\ndeveloping the country's oil industry.<\/p>\n
\"We have years of experience in the oil industry so maybe we
\ncould send some of our skilled workers to help develop the oil
\nindustry here,\" Alwi said.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman is scheduled to hold a joint press conference with
\nthe Yemeni President before leaving for the United Arab Emirates
\non Friday morning.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman will cap his trip with a Haj pilgrimage to Saudi
\nArabia.<\/p>\n
The President's trip comes as he has faces mounting pressure
\nback home to step down after being censured on Feb. 1 by the
\nHouse of Representatives, which found that he was implicated in
\ntwo corruption scandals.<\/p>\n
A drive by the House to impeach Abdurrahman by bringing
\nforward a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly,
\nappears to have fizzled out, but almost daily street
\ndemonstrations have continued.<\/p>\n
Critics have often accused the President of neglecting a
\nmyriad of domestic problems by making too many overseas trips.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday the President said that the political crisis in
\nJakarta had passed and that he no longer saw any threat to his
\npresidency.<\/p>\n
He also said on the eve of his departure that he was not
\nworried about leaving the country despite the threat to his
\npresidency at home.<\/p>\n
He also told his top military brass and senior aides to
\nmaintain order during his absence.<\/p>\n
Also included in the 85-strong presidential entourage is
\neducation minister Yahya Muhaimin.(byg)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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